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I'm not really up to speed on Ford's AWD system, but if the frame already supports drive to the back axle then I would've thought RWD would be doable, and more
by arprocter 5y ago
I'm not really up to speed on Ford's AWD system, but if the frame already supports drive to the back axle then I would've thought RWD would be doable, and more desirable in a truck
I guess it could be a limitation of the hybrid engine
- throwaway0a5e 5y agoThey're working with the Focus platform here. They don't have a drop in RWD drivetrain for that. It would be a substantial engineering effort. Releasing this vehicle for North America is already kind of a gamble and I'm not surprised they're being conservative and sticking to the existing drive-trains for that platform.
- arprocter 5y agoThe cynic in me thinks this will just allow them to drop the hybrid model when 'it sells badly', although I guess someone's buying FWD CR-Vs and RAV4s - they're both in the top 10 sellers
- mywittyname 5y agoRWD is doable, but they'd have to completely redesign the transmission/hybrid system to accommodate AWD/RWD. And that would add a lot of costs. Ford uses a GKN differential in C2 AWD applications and it's not a cheap unit. FWD works just fine on the Transit Connect, which is what this is intended to compliment/replace. I've driven minivans loaded to the gills with crap and never found FWD to be a problem there.